The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-05
HELD PRISONER By APACHE INDIANS.


Indians for seven months during General Gus
ter's hottest campaign in the West, and it was
my misfortune to witness many of the barbara
ties practiced upon prisoners who were luckless
enough to fall into their hands. was captured
while acting scout for the government, and
it was superstition that saved my life. carry
q birth mark with me in the shape of wine
stain, which just touches the left eye and
covers much of the cheek No Apache
had seed a white marked like
that before was captured about 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, after a chase which had lasted
for nearly thirty miles. l had been followed
that distance by seven mounted Indians. and
had preserved my lead, and would probably
have got clear of them had l not been inter-
cepted by new party umoering about dozen.
They came out of dry ravine, and rode to cut
me off, and. as their horses fresh, there
no hope for me- made my surrender
before anyone was within rifle range, and
thereby saved my life. Before they were up /
had diSmounted, placed my rifle and revolver on
the ground, aud was rubbing down my jaded
horse when the warriors gathered around.
The birth mark was the first thing that at
tracted their attention. They were all in war
paint, and all wanted blood, but when that
strange dis6guratiou not of
them would lift n hand against me. 1t did not
take me long to catch on, and then. in the faint
hope that might possibly pull out of it, began
to appear the man they took me for. / went on
rubbing my horse down. whistling and singing
and stopping now and then to indulge in strange
antics. and verify believe that had picked up
my rife and assumed a belligerent attitude they
would have left in hurry. / hadn't the
nerve to try it. however. and. after a
while l turned my horse loose to
roll and pick at the grass. and sat
down my saddle. and began to count my
fingers over and over and talk to myself They
dismounted and gathered around me. and that
was a subject of awe and mystery was plain
as the ugly faces before me, Now and then
some of them would fall back for whispered
consultation but for the greater part of the next
two hours thew and iOOkad and
versed in whispers. When my horse had rested
l saddled him, mounted, rode to the side of
the chief. and we went off in cavalcade, we
two riding at the head. i rode fast or slow, as
suited my whln, and they accommodated their
pace to mine.
1t was o'clock in the evening when we
reached the main village. and the belief of the
Indians with me that I was a mystery was
stronger than at the start. We entered the vii
lage without any hurrah, although courier had
gone before, and all the people out to see
me. l was regarded by them about the same
white people would look at circus procession
only there was no laughing, nor joking, Dor loud
talk. / dsmounted at my own will and selected
lodge and entered It. 1t belonged to sub
chief. | aeterward came to know, but was
not disturbed in possess sion. threw out of it
such stuff as l thought the owner might want,
including his rife aud bow and culver,
and then threw myself down on a bed of
skins. and apparently went to Sleep Not red
skin in that village dared arouse me, even to
offer me food. The dogs came, and shifted, and
barked and were dubbed off. All disturbances
| were hushed, and whenever anyone moved by
| my lodge he went on tip-toe. Thus far had
| played my cards WELL and As was now getting
| over my scare and believed l saw my way out,
| could do some planning. l felt that the next
| morning would decide my fate, for would then
be examined by the chiefs, and perhaps by the
| medicine men. These latter are always terribly
| jealous fellows, and l realized that they would
| do their best TO have me treated as prisoner
| instead of novelty.
! 1t may surprise the reader to know that
| slept soundly after 10 o'clock was old to the
| plains although a young man, and this was not
| my first experience with danger. | was aroused
| soon after daylight by the hustle of the village,
| and when l appeared at the door of the lodge
squaw was preparing her masters breakfast at
| fire near at hand. A RABBIT roasting on a
stick. and there was cake OF flour and meal in
| skillet. and some coffee in an iron kettle.
walked up to the fire and sat down, and as she
retreated in alarm | finished cooking the meal
and sat there and ate tup. There were at least
| 400 Indians old and young. looking at as
ate. but did not seem to notice any of them.
When 1 had finished breakfast l cast
my eyes around and picked out the
chiefs lodge, and I walked in on the
old man just he finishing off his meal.
| He would have vacated had 1 not stopped him
| with GESTURE and no one would have come
| near US had / not gone to the door aud bechoned
| to some of the old men. l should get hauling
over sooner or later, and l wanted TO be through
with it. l made signs to the chief to call In his
| SUBS anu Wise Hen, auO when tlloV UoRAf 10 ar
rive we adjourned to the open air. After the
usual smoke they began to examine my birth
mark. each one touching 1t with something like
reverence. Two medicine men were called in to
pronounce on it, and they fell into trap right
away. They explained. well / could I'M
derstand that 1t was only paint, which would
wash off, and they did not stop washing until
the spot was blistered. They gave in then. but
very ungraciously. and made another set at me
in different direction. They affirmed I must
be great medicine" and could, doubtless. pre-
dict the weather.
The chief made speech to me in signs order
ing me to foretell the weather for the next day.
He couldn't have pleased me better. Ihad made
a study of weather signs for years, and although
this midsummer, l felt it in my bones that
a change was imminent. and that the thermom-
eter would take decided drop before another
sunrise. The color of the sky. the shape of the
clouds, and the appearance OF the sun indicated
it. and replied to the chief in the language of
signs and told him what was coming. That
wasn't enough however. He wanted something
else and soon gave it to him. 1t was pretty
scaly times with the Indians just then. and !
knew that detachments of troops were threading
the country. I therefore gave him to under
stand that there would be great commotion ir
the camp before MONDAY, and that some
warrior would lose his life The
| medicine men regarded me with malevolent
looks but the chiefs were willing to give me q
show. l was turned loose to wander at will
| through the village. and | assure the
reader that did not forget the role was play
ing There was spirit of devtry among the
younger bucks. and when l had reached the
lower end CT the village strapping young fellow
stepped out in front of and brandished
tomahawk. l suppose he wanted to see if the
crazy white man would scare. His curiosity
was soon gratifed. Selling the wrist of the
hand holding the weapon with my left, AND
grabbing him by the hip with my right, l gave
him lift and fling. and pitched him head
long into the creek. He not only got up to rur
away, but all his friends followed and for thi.
feat of strength l was known as ''The-Little
Iron Man"
At about 1130 o'clock, while was sitting il
my lodge. heard great yelling and whoopine
and inside of minute the village was in an up
roar. The warriors secured their arms, TIT
popies were driven in and mounted, and whit
each person seemed to be tumbng over thu
other in the greatest confusion. each we'll under
stood what he was doing. and no time was los
in getting away. One of the outposts had sig
nailed ''enemies in sight, and inside Of fv
minutes 800 warriors were galloping out of tn
valley in which the village was situated.
never knew what in sight, but believes
it to be false alarm, as all the warriors re
turned in about an hour They broueh
with them warriors dend body
He had been shot through tn
heart by the accidental discharge of a revolver
Ny prediction had been verified-one of Their
, and / saw that had been elevated peg O
two in the minds of the chiefs. The weathe
| nredictiop was vari fed durno tho NIGHT II W.